Spring City season ends at Region 3 tourney

The Spring City Red Sox Senior American Legion baseball team saw its 2013 season come to an end with two straight losses in the Pennsylvania Region 3 Tournament at Falls Township.

The Chester County League champions were beaten by Wayne, 4-1, on July 20 and then Bristol, 2-1, on July 21 in the double-elimination tournament. Spring City finished the season with a 23-9 overall record under first-year manager Mike Walton.

The first setback came despite a strong pitching effort by Mark Breitenbach. Three unearned runs due to five Red Sox errors on defense broke up a 0-0 deadlock in the sixth inning in the game played at Pennsbury High School.

Spring City averted a shutout in the eighth inning as David Gulati laced a one-out double up the middle and came around to score on a Vince Ianni single to left field.

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Ianni went 2-for-3 while Louie Vining finished 2-for-4 in the contest. Vining and Nate Fretz each pitched one inning of relief for the Red Sox.

The loss to Bristol came at Cairn University in Langhorne Manor. The Red Sox committed two of their three errors during Bristolís first at-bat that led to the loss. Again, Spring City stayed close with a solid pitching performance by Louie Vining.

Bristol starting pitcher Dylan Evert worked a non-hitter through the first 4 2/3 innings before Angelo Kelly broke it up with a single through the shortstop hole. David Gulati (two walks) added another hit and Nick Fuhrmeister was hit by a pitch. But the Red Sox were unable to capitalize on two bases-loaded opportunities and stranded a total of 12 runners on the day.

In the Spring City sixth inning, Billy Conroy reached base on an error and went to third on Shane Emrichís grounder to short. A passed ball enabled Conroy to score. Corey Rantz ripped a double to left-center field and Nate Fretz singled. The Red Sox went without a run on the play when Rantz was ruled out at the plate on a questionable play with a throw from the outfield and subsequent tag.